Caudal block for analgesia after paediatric inguinal surgery.

Two hundred and eleven children aged 1-5 years were studied after undergoing herniorrhaphy or orchiopexy. In 111 cases a caudal block was used for postoperative analgesia. This was administered immediately after induction of anaesthesia, using bupivacaine 0.25% plain (0.7 ml/kg lean body mass), and was successful in 100 patients. A mean analgesic level (+/- SE) of T9.9 +/- 0.47 was achieved (range L2-T6). In 5 cases no block occurred and in 6 the level was below T12. The other 100 children acted as controls. Behaviour patterns were more restful in the caudal block group on awakening and less opiate was required during the first 5 postoperative hours. No complications resulted.